LANGKAWI (March 29): Aerospace engineering company Strand Aerospace Malaysia (SAM) Sdn Bhd has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UK-based aerospace company Samad Aerospace Ltd to jointly develop an electronic vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
SAM business development manager Afif Badrulhisham said the MoU would pave the way for the company to be involved in eVTOL which is gaining popularity in the aerospace industry.
“Right now, the aircraft is still in the development phase, whereby it has to undergo design, engineering and certification, which is SAM’s speciality,” he told reporters after signing the MoU at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2019 (LIMA’19) here today.
He said collaboration with Samad Aerospace would also help develop the industry in Malaysia.
“Currently, SAM is the only company that has the capability to work with Samad Aerospace. We hope more companies will be able to provide services to Samad Aerospace in the future,” he said.
Samad Aerospace chief executive officer Seyed Moseni said the aircraft, named e-Starling, costs £200 million to develop and is expected to be delivered in 2022.
LIMA’19 is held at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre and Resorts World Langkawi (RWL) from March 26-30.
[Source: “Strand Aerospace, Samad Aerospace to develop eVTOL aircraft” published by The Edge Communications Sdn. Bhd.]
